[The Human Rights Library wishes to express its gratitude to
the Institute Henry Dunant for its contribution of this document.]

The Second International Peace Conference, proposed in the
first instance by the President of the United States of America,
having been convoked, on the invitation of His Majesty the Emperor
of All the Russias, by Her Majesty the Queen of the Netherlands,
assembled on 15 June 1907, at The Hague, in the Hall of the Knights,
for the purpose of giving a fresh development to the humanitarian
principles which served as a basis for the work of the First Conference
of 1899.

The following Powers took part in the Conference, and appointed
the delegates named below:

(Here follow the names of delegates)

At a series of meetings, held from 15 June to 18 October 1907,
in which the above delegates were throughout animated by the desire
to realize, in the fullest possible measure, the generous views
of the august initiator of the Conference and the intentions of
their Governments, the Conference drew up, for submission for
signature by the plenipotentiaries, the text of the Conventions
and of the Declaration enumerated below and annexed to the present
Act.

I. Convention for the pacific settlement of international disputes.

II. Convention respecting the limitation of the employment
of force for the recovery of contract debts.

III. Convention relative to the opening of hostilities. IV.
Convention respecting the laws and customs of war on land.

V. Convention respecting the rights and duties of neutral powers
and persons in case of war on land. VI. Convention relative to
the status of enemy merchant ships at the outbreak of hostilities.
VII. Convention relative to the conversion of merchant ships into
warships.

VIII.Convention relative to the laying of automatic submarine
contact mines.

IX. Convention respecting bombardment by naval forces in time
of war.

X. Convention for the adaptation to naval war of the principles
of the Geneva Convention.

XI. Convention relative to certain restrictions with regard
to the exercise of the right of capture in naval war.

XII. Convention relative to the creation of an International
Prize Court.

XIII.Convention concerning the rights and duties of neutral
Powers in naval war.

XIV.Declaration prohibiting the discharge of projectiles and
explosives from balloons.

These Conventions and Declarations shall form so many separate
Acts. These Acts shall be dated this day, and may be signed up
to 30 June 1908, at The Hague, by the Plenipotentiaries of the
Powers represented at the Second Peace Conference.

The Conference, actuated by the spirit of mutual agreement
and concession characterizing its deliberations, has agreed upon
the following Declaration, which, while reserving to each of the
Powers represented full liberty of action as regards voting, enables
them to affirm the principles which they regard as unanimously
admitted: It is unanimous:

1. In admitting the principle of compulsory arbitration.

2. In declaring that certain disputes, in particular those
relating to the interpretation and application of the provisions
of international agreements, may be submitted to compulsory arbitration
without any restriction.

Finally, it is unanimous in proclaiming that, although it has
not yet been found feasible to conclude a Convention in this sense,
nevertheless the divergences of opinion which have come to light
have not exceeded the bounds of judicial controversy, and that,
by working together here during the past four months, the collected
Powers not only have learnt to understand one another and to draw
closer together, but have succeeded in the course of this long
collaboration in evolving a very lofty conception of the common
welfare of humanity.

The Conference has further unanimously adopted the following
Resolution:

"The Second Peace Conference confirms the Resolution adopted
by the Conference of 1899 in regard to the limitation of military
expenditure; and inasmuch as military expenditure has considerably
increased in almost every country since that time, the Conference
declares that it is eminently desirable that the Governments should
resume the serious examination of this question." It has
besides expressed the following ' Voeux ': 1. The Conference recommends
to the Signatory Powers the adoption of the annexed draft Convention
for the creation of a Judicial Arbitration Court, and the bringing
it into force as soon as an agreement has been reached respecting
the selection of the judges and the constitution of the Court.
2. The Conference expresses the opinion that, in case of war,
the responsible authorities, civil as well as military, should
make it their special duty to ensure and safeguard the maintenance
of pacific relations, more especially of the commercial and industrial
relations between the inhabitants of the belligerent States and
neutral countries. 3. The Conference expresses the opinion that
the Powers should regulate, by special treaties, the position,
as regards military charges, of foreigners residing within their
territories. 4. The Conference expresses the opinion that the
preparation of regulations relative to the laws and customs of
naval war should figure in the programme of the next Conference,
and that in any case the Powers may apply, as far as possible,
to war by sea the principles of the Convention relative to the
laws and customs of war on land. Finally, the Conference recommends
to the Powers the assembly of a Third Peace Conference, which
might be held within a period corresponding to that which has
elapsed since the preceding Conference, at a date to be fixed
by common agreement between the Powers, and it calls their attention
to the necessity of preparing the programme of this Third Conference
a sufficient time in advance to ensure its deliberations being
conducted with the necessary authority and expedition.

In order to attain this object the Conference considers that
it would be very desirable that, some two years before the probable
date of the meeting, a preparatory committee should be charged
by the Governments with the task of collecting the various proposals
to be submitted to the Conference, of ascertaining what subjects
are ripe for embodiment in an international regulation, and of
preparing a programme which the Governments should decide upon
in sufficient time to enable it to be carefully examined by the
countries interested. This committee should further be entrusted
with the task of proposing a system of organization and procedure
for the Conference itself.

In faith whereof the Plenipotentiaries have signed the present
Act and have affixed their seals thereto.

Done at The Hague, 18 October 1907, in a single copy, which
shall remain deposited in the archives of the Netherlands Government,
and duly certified copies of which shall be sent to all the Powers
represented at the Conference.